[JohnSantana]

Quote:

No, the SE535 is only a little more than the original W4. But I think it's fairer to compare to the W4R since both share the removable cable, and the price for the two are very close, same even, in my country. 

Ah ok, I got what you mean so it is apple-apple comparison.

 

[JohnSantana]

Quote:

 
the presentation of the w4 for me is the best so far for me (my preference)..
 
like what everyone says they do nothing wrong.. they are very detailed from lows to highs.. and the mids are just right there never distant but also never obtrusive..
 
from the iems i owned, i just prefer them over it after having enough time with each of them and A/Bing for months.. the arrow 4g is just what i'm missing so far for me...

 
yes, so far I've noticed the difference after 1 month using my Westone W4, I can now feel that there is a virtual space / distance from me the listener and the music played.
 
Previously I couldn't tell or make out this difference with my Logitech UE 700 (2 Balance Armature) IEM. 

 

[soullinker20]

yes, so far I've noticed the difference after 1 month using my Westone W4, I can now feel that there is a virtual space / distance from me the listener and the music played.

Previously I couldn't tell or make out this difference with my Logitech UE 700 (2 Balance Armature) IEM. 

i've heard that 1 year ago but the bass quantity was lacking to me.. (basshead back then)

if there's anything you should notice maybe the clarity? there is a touch on the midbass dept on the w4 too that I really like.. anyway YMMV

 

[JohnSantana]

Quote:

i've heard that 1 year ago but the bass quantity was lacking to me.. (basshead back then)
if there's anything you should notice maybe the clarity? there is a touch on the midbass dept on the w4 too that I really like.. anyway YMMV

Yes, that is how I feel within my first few day in using my Westone W4, I thought that W4 was sound bit darker / muffled compare to the bright and colourful UE700. Now I'm getting used to with my W4 and I begin to appreciate it more when I'm using it to listen with my Fiio E11 amp

 

[TwinQY]

Sony Hybrids sound really good with these, probably the best silicone tips I've tried. The W4s gain some much needed clarity after these.

 

[JohnSantana]

Quote:

Sony Hybrids sound really good with these, probably the best silicone tips I've tried. The W4s gain some much needed clarity after these.

Yes, you are right, perhaps I was get used to with my Logitech UE700 which sounds brighter before.

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

 
yes, so far I've noticed the difference after 1 month using my Westone W4, I can now feel that there is a virtual space / distance from me the listener and the music played.
 
Previously I couldn't tell or make out this difference with my Logitech UE 700 (2 Balance Armature) IEM. 

I think this is spot on. The presentation on these is so natural, space for an in-ear is pretty much perfect. Imaging and separation is also extremely competent.
 
Just had a meet today, and trying all the different in-ears really makes me appreciate the sound signature of the W4s a bit better. Got to listen to the PFE232s afterwards, my impressions are that the 232s have slightly better clarity, detail and presentation-wise they're basically on par. The bass on the 232s though are tighter, more refined, and also a tad more prominent? (Might have been the tips though). Midrange-wise I think the W4s suit my music better. It loses on clarity, but is more refined and smoother. The W4s don't usually wow, but when they do, it's for female vocals - which might be some of the best rendered female vocals I've yet heard. The treble on the 232s are more prominent and have more detail and sparkle, but the W4s tend to offend less, being more laid back. Both sound extremely good, offering par-to-par performance, with slightly different sound signatures. One thing that the 232s lose on for me is fit and comfort. Maybe I'm just a bit used to the W4s, but they seem to stay in the ears a bit nicer. I also find that not a lot of tips fit on the 232s as well as I'd like. 

 

[tinyman392]

Quote:

I think this is spot on. The presentation on these is so natural, space for an in-ear is pretty much perfect. Imaging and separation is also extremely competent.
 
Just had a meet today, and trying all the different in-ears really makes me appreciate the sound signature of the W4s a bit better. Got to listen to the PFE232s afterwards, my impressions are that the 232s have slightly better clarity, detail and presentation-wise they're basically on par. The bass on the 232s though are tighter, more refined, and also a tad more prominent? (Might have been the tips though). Midrange-wise I think the W4s suit my music better. It loses on clarity, but is more refined and smoother. The W4s don't usually wow, but when they do, it's for female vocals - which might be some of the best rendered female vocals I've yet heard. The treble on the 232s are more prominent and have more detail and sparkle, but the W4s tend to offend less, being more laid back. Both sound extremely good, offering par-to-par performance, with slightly different sound signatures. One thing that the 232s lose on for me is fit and comfort. Maybe I'm just a bit used to the W4s, but they seem to stay in the ears a bit nicer. I also find that not a lot of tips fit on the 232s as well as I'd like. 

 
OK, I do want to confirm a few things you found about the 232 that I also had.
 
Bass-wise; I agree entirely that the bass is tighter, and a lot more prominent with better depth.  I also felt the W4 mids, especially vocals, were a step ahead of the 232 despite the 232 having slightly better clarity and detailing.  I was one of the weird ones with the W4 having a bit of sibilance in the treble regions  I didn't get it with the 232s though.  I found the fit on both IEMs great, but did prefer the 232 fit.  
 
I do thank you for your impressions, they'll certainly help others

 

[JohnSantana]

Quote:

I think this is spot on. The presentation on these is so natural, space for an in-ear is pretty much perfect. Imaging and separation is also extremely competent.
 
Just had a meet today, and trying all the different in-ears really makes me appreciate the sound signature of the W4s a bit better. Got to listen to the PFE232s afterwards, my impressions are that the 232s have slightly better clarity, detail and presentation-wise they're basically on par. The bass on the 232s though are tighter, more refined, and also a tad more prominent? (Might have been the tips though). Midrange-wise I think the W4s suit my music better. It loses on clarity, but is more refined and smoother. The W4s don't usually wow, but when they do, it's for female vocals - which might be some of the best rendered female vocals I've yet heard. The treble on the 232s are more prominent and have more detail and sparkle, but the W4s tend to offend less, being more laid back. Both sound extremely good, offering par-to-par performance, with slightly different sound signatures. One thing that the 232s lose on for me is fit and comfort. Maybe I'm just a bit used to the W4s, but they seem to stay in the ears a bit nicer. I also find that not a lot of tips fit on the 232s as well as I'd like. 

Yes, now I know the real performance of what 4 BAs can do
Westone 4 is very revealing which makes me want to go with Original CD/DVD rather than with the ordinary lesser than 256 KBps MP3 files.

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Yes, now I know the real performance of what 4 BAs can do
Westone 4 is very revealing which makes me want to go with Original CD/DVD rather than with the ordinary lesser than 256 KBps MP3 files.

With the Shure olives, they get a bit more forgiving. Any silicone tip would be unrelenting. The cutoff point for me would be 192kps LAME. Everything above sounds pretty transparent. In fact, I find them a great deal more forgiving than my LCD-2s with olives. Details are still there, and they are probably the most balanced of the tips. Makes me wonder what custom tips/a reshell would be like. I'll probably wait for warranty to expire before reshelling, though.

 

[sly_in_the_sky]

To my ears, the PFe 232 treble energy's to present in an unnatural and fatiguing way... not the W4... that's the reason why I kept the W4 and not the 232

 

[soullinker20]

I was also aiming for the 232 but then I don't want to lose that natural mid forward mids..
 
i got worried 'bout the fatiguing highs of the 232.. probably one of the reasons why i let go of the ex1000 for W4

 

[tinyman392]

Quote:

To my ears, the PFe 232 treble energy's to present in an unnatural and fatiguing way... not the W4... that's the reason why I kept the W4 and not the 232

 
Quote:

I was also aiming for the 232 but then I don't want to lose that natural mid forward mids..
 
i got worried 'bout the fatiguing highs of the 232.. probably one of the reasons why i let go of the ex1000 for W4

 
I actually didn't find the 232 treble fatiguing, but did find a slight sibilance in the W4R treble.  The 232 do do some things better than the W4 midrange-wise (partly due to the veil the W4 imposes).  

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

To my ears, the PFe 232 treble energy's to present in an unnatural and fatiguing way... not the W4...

Totally agreed here too. 

 

[zenpunk]

Definitely not the case for me. Not a hint of glare or fatigue. As smooth as a baby's bottom.